Mike McGeary founded Engine with partner Josh Mendelsohn in 2011 to advocate for policies that benefit startup businesses. (Photo: Courtesy of Engine Advocacy)

A new buzzword is taking hold in Silicon Valley, and it has nothing to do with hashtags or online search. Chile—the country—is on the lips of many business owners, researchers and funders alike.

In 2010, the Chilean government announced a new program to attract entrepreneurs from around the world to its capital, Santiago, by offering them $40,000 to start businesses. South Africa and Germany have implemented similar policies, and it’s all making people like Mike McGeary nervous.

Two years ago McGeary and business partner Josh Mendelsohn founded Engine, a small organization based in San Francisco advocating for policies to benefit startup businesses. When they asked startups what policy issues most affected them, reforming how America deals with foreign entrepreneurs and high-skilled workers was “absolutely the first thing on everyone’s mind,” McGeary said. Continue Reading >>